Signal-transmitting device



March 4 1924. 1548,5383

- E. J. QUINN SIGNAL TRANSMITTING DEVICE.

Filed Feb. 15 1922 v .W/TNESSES- I I v Patented Mar. 4, 1924 EDWARD J OSEPH QUINN, OF RINGSEND, IRELAND.

SIGNAL-TRANSMITTING DEVICE.

Application filed February 15, $1922. Serial 110 536314.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD J osnrn QUINN, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at 7 1 Irishtown Road, Ringsend, Co. Dublin, Ireland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Signal Transmitting Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a general character signal transmitting-device for wireless, flash-light and land line systems of telegraphy, the object being to provide improved devices for sending out or transmitting mes sages or signals which messages or signals were hitherto sent out automatically by different means.

According to my invention, a general character signal transmitting. device for wireless, flash-light and land line systems of telegraphy in its preferred form consists of a member or a series of members having impressed thereon signal characters and in combination therewith a roller or wheel member spring-pressed against the aforesaid member or members and adapted to be revolubly operated in intermittent electrical contact with said signal characters by means or spring-backed indicator keys on an insulated keyboard, said keys being geared up to rotate said roller or wheel member thus facilitating the transmission of signals or messages with a saving in time and labour and cost of apparatus hitherto employed for automatically transmitting wireless land line, or

1 flashlight signals, the construction, arrangement and operatlon being such that when my invention is applied in the controlling circuit of any known signalling system an unlimited number of messages or signals can be sent out according to the appropriate indicator key or keys operated to correspond to the character or characters of any known signal code employed.

In the accompanying explanatory drawing, Fig. 1 shows a section on the line A B of Fig. 2, in elevation of the keyboard box or container with an end view of the transmitting device, and Fig. 2 shows a plan view of Fig. 1 with part of the keyboard or cover cut away to expose some of the parts of said transmitting device. I

According to a preferred example of my invention, the afpresaid transmitting device consists of a semi-circular member or a series of semi-circular members 1 having thereon signal characters indicated by 2 of any known signal code, these signal characters being separated from each other in a known'manner by means of suitable insulating material 3 to allow of intermittent elec trical contact of the combination therewith consisting of a roller or wheel 4 which is spring-pressed against each semi-circular member 1 and is fixed by means of a springable spoke 5 to a spindle 6 which is adapted to be revolved by a free-wheel pinion 7 and an engaging rack 8 the latter being connected in each case to a spring-backed indicator key 9 which latter on being pressed causes the roller or wheel member 1 to revolve and make intermittent electrical contact With the signal characters indicated by 2, and which signal characters might represent the fog signal in the present instance, the idea in the present instance being to have'a separate indicator key and transmitting device for each separate signal such as one for characters representing the letter F one for the letter E one for the letter S one for the letter O, so that by pressing in typewriter fashion the appropriate indicator keys, for example, S, O, and then back to S, the well known signal S O S may be sent out in a more rapid manner. Each indicator key 9 is headed with an insulated button 10 having impressed thereon the character corresponding to the character on the member 1. The indicator key 9 is backed by a coiled spring 11, and is provided with a collar 12 which acts as a stop against the top of the mem-' her 1; The lower end of the rack 8 is extended to pass through the bottom 13 at 14: of the box or container 15 to form a guide for the rack 8 which at its key end passes through the member 1 and through the keyboard or top 16 of the container 15 which latter is provided with four or more legs 17 of suflicient depth to allow of full depression of the rack 8 which is cared to the freewheel pinion 7 which e ectively acts in a clockwise direction but overruns the spindle 6 in an anti-clockwise direction when the button 10 is released. Each member or series of members 1 have their semi-circular free ends extended at 18 and 19 and bevelled thereat and open to release and receive the roller or wheel member 4:, the lower end 19 being far enough apart from the end 18 to allow easy entrance of the roller 4 as it makes a complete revolution in its travel on the member 1 and in its release therefrom. A roller or wheel stop 20 of insulated material 3 is provided on each member 1, and is shallow enough to allow of rolling over of the roller 4 on depression of the key 9. This stop serves to bring the roller or wheel 4 to rest on the completion of a signal or message; and on depression of the button 10 the spring 5 will bend to a greater extent and so allow the roller 1 to ride over the hump 20 for transmission of the next message or signal. The container 15 is made out of insulating material, such as wood or vulcanite or other suitable material and is divided into compartments (Fig. 2) 21, 22, 23 and so on depending upon the number of members 1 employed for sending out messages or signals by operation of the keys 9 in typewriter fashion. The partitions 24 are also made of insulating material and are provided with metal bearings 25 to receive the spindle 6 to act as conductors to complete the electric circuit in a known manner. Each spindle 6 is provided with a retaining collar 26 which is pinned on at 27. In the compartment 21 the known kind of transmitter indicated by 28 is provided and is wired to the battery 29 by the lead 30 (Fig. 2). A lead 31 from the other terminal of the battery is carried and connected to the bearing 25, and to complete the circuit a lead 32 is taken from the transmitter 28 and connected to the metal part of the member 1 in any suitable position such as at 33.- The second member 1, indicated in dotted outline in Fig. 2, may be wired up in circuit by common leads 33 and 34. Any other suitable and known system of wiring may be employed for sending out messages or signals; and a relay of the known kind may be introduced in the known manner into the electrical circuit when high tension currents are employed to prevent sparkingbetween' the stepped characters 2. The members 1 may be conveniently held in position by means of fixing screws 33. i

For my saidtransmitting device, immaterial details of construction and arrangement may be varied without departing from the nature of my present invention.

Having described my invention, I claim 1. A general character signal transmitting device for wireless, flash-light and land line messes systems of telegraphy of the kind described herein, comprising a member or series of members of semi-circular formation and having impressed thereon signal characters, and in combination therewith a roller or wheel member spring-pressed against each semi-circular member aforesaid by means of a springablespoke secured to a spindle adapted to be revolved by a free-wheel pinion on said spindle, a rack engaging said free-wheel spindle, said rack being connected in each case to a spring-backed indicator key, said spring-backed indicator key being adapted under pressure to cause said roller or wheel member to revolve and so make intermittent electrical contact with said signal characters.

2. A general character signal transmitting device for wireless, flash-light and land line systems of telegraphy of the kind described herein, comprising a member or a series of members of semi-circular formation having impressed thereon signal characters, and in combination therewith a roller or wheel member spring-pressed against each semi-circular member aforesaid by means of a springable spoke secured to a spindle adapted to be revolved by a free-wheel pinion on said spindle, a rack engaging said free-wheel pinion, said rack being connected in each case to a spring-backed indicator key, sald spr1ngbacked indicator key being adapted under pressure to cause said roller or wheel member to make intermittent elec trical contact with said slgnal characters, on

each semi-circular member aforesaid free ends extended and open to release and to receive said roller or wheel member as the latter is caused to travel as aforesaid, and on each semi-circular member aforesaid a roller or wheel stop having the effect of bringing said roller or wheel member to rest while allowing the latter to override said stop when said indicator key is pressed.

1 Signed by me this 31st day of. January,

Witnesses:

ALICE LYNCH, W. E. DOYLE. 

